Milk Time – Childhood objects and memories

Representing Welfare in Modern British Childhood 1948 – 2012Rhian Harris, Director, V&A Museum of Childhood

Empty

Fill me up

Milk of human kindness

Mother love

Fill me up

Empty breakfast belly

Dreams and possibilities

Fill me up

Brimful of justice

Education, rights

Fill me up

Sodden with milky hope

We must care for the hungry child

We must care for the sick and the old

In the give and take

Surely

We can afford

To fill me up

MMR Vaccine

When I was born, everybody feared me.

Last year, lots of people decided they didn’t want me.

One month ago, people debated for and against me.

One hour ago, my needle sunk into a poor toddler’s smooth skin.

One minute ago, all my excess liquid was poured down the drain.

Now, I am in a hospital bin.

I am the dreaded MMR.

However, what I found completely unacceptable was the blatant left wing bias, almost bordering on propaganda… As a charity funded organisation I would not expect for such comments, over and over again which made out that new Labour was the best thing since slice bread and did far more for children than anyone else and prior to 1997. There should be absolutely no political bias in an exhibition like this…

I found the political element of the exhibition unpleasant and weird. There was token multi-culture, Labour's family groups, Tories - the last thing I'd expect in an exhibition.

Thought-provoking - good explanation/description of the changes in childhood, parenting, family structure and welfare provisions.

The exhibits helped explain the history of childhood to me. As I am only 9 years old I have a lot to learn. My particular favourites were Blue Peter as I have a badge and Muffin the Mule.